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W. H. KNIGHT.

' ELECTRIC RAILWAY.

Patented Mar. 16, 1886.

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.VALTER H. KNIGHT,

ELECTRIC ..TIOI\T zorming part of Letters Application tiled July10,1555.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, \VALTER II. KNIGHT, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of New York, N. Y., have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Electric Railways, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention consists in certain devices whereby, in an electric railwayhaving one or both of its main conductors inclosedin a slot tedconduit,a contact device extending through the slot to the saidconductors may be guided. into either one of two branch railways.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a plan of an electricrailway at the point of branching, showing the track-rails and theconduit-slot. Fig. 2 is a section of the same on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.Fig. 3 shows in detail the actuating mechanism (or the slotswitchingpoint. Fig. i; represents the conductors at the branching point.

In Fig. 1, A and B are the two main conductors, shown by dotted lines asinclosed in the conduit, having its slot represented by A B are thecorresponding conductors in one branch, and A" B are the correspondingconductors in the other branch.

A contact device consisting of the plow l 'and contact-shoes m m, of theconstruction shown in a patent granted to me September 23, 1884, andnumbered $05,731, is represented in Fig. 1.

At the branching point of the slot is pivoted a point, C, which isadapted to be turned to one side or the other, so as to close one branchslot and leave the other branch slot open as a continuation of the mainslot. By means of this point C the plow I may be directed into eitherbranch conduit. The plow P being dc fiected into either branch, thecontact-shoes m m will go with it into the same branch.

As shown in Fig. 4, the branch conductor A is connected to the mainconductor A, and the branch conductor B is connected correspondingly tothe main conductor B, while A and B form continuations of A and B,respectively. The contact-shoesmm are adapted to bear upon the verticalsurfaces of the main conductors, and when deflected into either branchwill necessarily pass between one of the branch conductors, as B, andits corresponding main conductor B, so that the wire on NEW roan, N. Y.

RA! LVVAY.

Patent 150838983, dated March 16,183

Serial No. 171,199. (No model.)

connecting B and B must be placed outof the line of the progress of thecontact-shoes.

In order that the slot-point C may always be turned correspondingly withthe trackswitching point, I connect the two together, so that-they canonly be moved simultaneously. This is done by the mechanism illustratedin Figs. 2 and 3.

D represents an uprightpost journaled in the top and bottom plates ofthe conduit, and carrying at its upper end the slot switching point (2.A connecting-rod, 1* is fastened to D, and extends back from it.horizontally. To the end of E is pivoted a rod, F, having its oppositeend pivoted to lever G. Lever G has also a co n nection. II, with thetrack switching poi nt 0, and an operating-lever, K, is pivoted with aconnectingrod between it and H, so that when K is turned to one side orthe other both the slot-switching point and the track-switchingpointwill be. thrown into the correspond ing position.

The slot switching point C rests upon the top plate of the conduit, sothat its extreme end is constantly upheld by the edge of the slot, whileit upheld from beneath the support would interfere with the insulatedconductors inclosed in the slot.

The conductors, it will be observed, are stationary at thebranching-point and not mova ble, as is usually the case in switches forelectric railways.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The combination,iu-a branching electric railway, of a tracleswitch, a branching slottedconduit having a movable guide-piece at the branching-point and contactdevices extending into said slot, main conductor A, branch conductor A,forming a continuation of A, and a branch conductor, A connectedelectrically to A and A, but so placed as to allow passage of thecontact device between itself and said conductors A A.

2. The combination, in an electric railway, of a branching slottedconduit parallel therewith, an electric conductorin main and branchconduit stationary at the branching point, contact devices extendinginto said conduit through the slot to connect with said coir ductor, atrack-switch, and a movable guidepiece for said slot at the point ofbranchin 3. The conibination,with the branching slot- I point, and themovable guide for said contact ted conduit, of an insulatedelectricconductor devices at the branching-point of the slot.

,inclosed therein and supported in position to In testimony whereof Isign this specifica- 10 the conductor stationary atthe branchingbereached by a contact device, and a movable Lion, in the presence of twowitnesses, this 30th guide-piece for the slot at the point of branchdayof June, 1885. r ing resting upon the surface of said conduit andsupported thereby. WALTER KNIGHT 4. The combination of the branchingslotted Witnesses: conduit, the contact device extending into it, I G.RENAULT,

HERBERT KNIGHT.

